Tree clearance cost sparks power struggle

The South Australian Government has opposed a bid to double the fees for trimming tree growth near power lines.

In a submission to the national regulator, SA Power Networks asked to be able to pass on tree pruning costs to its customers.

That would add $15 per year for the average household power bill.

SA Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis wrote to the national regulator to ask it to reject the submission.

"Quite frankly, no other business in South Australia gets to pass on their costs every time they do anything new," he said.

"They're in the profit and loss business and being in the market and buying a privatised asset is a risk.

"Now they paid a premium for that, they can't keep on passing these costs on to South Australian consumers."

Paul Roberts from SA Power Networks said it spent millions of dollars clearing branches away from powerlines.

"We think it's reasonable that, given that we're legislated and required to do this, that the community, as through electricity bills, should contribute to that cost, which is about protecting lives and also ensuring that we meet the regulatory targets in terms of reliability of supply for customers," he said.

SA Power Networks made a net profit of $367 million for the latest year.

Greg Ogle from the SA Council of Social Service said any extra billing charge would amount to double-dipping as power customers already were charged a premium to cover such costs.

"If costs go up that's part of any businesses model and that should be factored in next time they actually have a price negotiation, which isn't for a couple of years," he said.

"They can't just keep going back to the regulator every time one of their costs goes up."

You have no doubt been hearing a lot about the Paris Agreement and know that it pertains to climate change, but are too embarrassed at this stage to ask for an overall explanation of what it's all about.